ABSTRACT
Divergent accounts are given of the beginning, the antecedents, and the nature of globalization. The globalization narrative will incorporate an increased awareness of the world as a whole, expressed in ecological concern for the world, often under the heading 'sustainable development'. The European Commission develops the standards for environmental and drinking water. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) is responsible for developing, negotiating and putting into practice any European Union directives that affect the water industry and the water environment generally. The orientation to the globe is visible in stories about water management that place both water and management in England and Wales in a worldwide perspective. 'Water' travels as rain or in rivers beyond national boundaries. Environmental movements know that the government and the DETR place themselves in a rival position with other nation-states. Environmental movements refer to the government's inclination to be among the best.
